Derby County began life in 1884, as an off-shoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club - formed some 13 years earlier - with football growing more popular.

In those days there was no Football League, so the Rams had to make do with a series of friendly matches and the FA Cup.

Friendly matches were a way of building the team and the club up and the cup eventually provided some success in 1885, with an impressive victory going a long way to putting the town's football club on the map.

In 1888 came the introduction of the Football League, a 12-team competition formed with clubs from across the midlands and the north-west.

Preston North End, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Accrington FC, Everton, Burnley, Notts County, Stoke City, and of course, Derby County.

Bolton were the first league opponents, a game Derby won 6-3 with doubles for Cooper, Bakewell, and Lawrence Plackett, but the Rams would ultimately finish tenth in the debut campaign.

The following season saw improvement on the field - the County Ground, Derby's first home - as the club finished seventh.

In 1889/90 Derby made their most significant signing thus far with the capture of England international John Goodall, a star of the Preston side that had won the double in league football's first season.